Oh, Mr. Sussman,

I don't feel that personal matters should be grounds for political fodder either. John Edwards family is going through hardships right now that I can't possibly imagine, and that is sad. However, that being said, if a politician takes a stance, and exudes an image of an individual with high moral standards and a devote christian, he (or she) should probably practice what they preach. John Edwards made comments about Bill Clinton's "disgracing the office of the President" with his actions. Being from the south, the "bible belt", John Edwards chose to run on platforms of "Christian" ideals, so really he put himself in the spot he is in. I can honestly say this is much worse than what Clinton did, because, really, we all knew about Clinton, and knew that he was prone to some tomfoolery, whereas someone like Edwards is expected to be held at a higher standard, because he believes society should be held to the same standard.

No kidding, that would have been disasterous for the Democratic Party if he were the nominee. Again, though, I think John Edwards could not have survived this because he was so outspoken about the subject when others were in the position he is in now.

I had actually been hearing about this from some of my conservative friends for a week or so now. Apparently the "Drudge Report" and Rush Limbaugh have been putting the pressure on mainstream media to pick this story up, which in turn forced Mr. Edwards to out himself before someone did it for him.

I feel it is an extra low blow from the right simply due to the fact that they had nothing to gain politically from this story, just ruining a man who made a mistake that many have made before and will again.

It is a dirty system we have developed, and it probably has stopped some would be great leaders from taking the big step forward.

"Elliot Spitzer, John Edwards. Spitzer’s callgirl, the financial details of his sexual exploits, was newscopy for months. Spitzer’s real problem was that he got too many noses out of joint."
Absolute fucking crap. He sent people to jail for this. He is a fucking multi-millionaire. Get on a plane and fly to Vegas or Europe. I don't care if you cheat on your wife but please don't lie to the public about it. Just refuse to answer questions. And if you haven't put others in jail, I don't care if you hire a prostitute. Unfortunately, I think Elliot needs to go to jail. It's too bad. He did a spectacular job as AG. I was tremendously disappointed.

“On the first incarnation of the Air America Cruise, one of the questions asked of the audience, was how many had originally been John Edwards supporters. Almost unanimous response. I wonder how many hands would go up now. His ideas were adopted by both Hillary and Barack Obama.”
‘Almost unanimous sounds’ rather dubious and I find your speculation about others potentially dishonest responses to a regarding their support of Edwards a little ironic.

Btw, a 12 step program focused on eliminating a compulsive desire for exceptionally hot twenty year olds does sound like a place of miracle and transformation and it does should like it would make good copy.

Fox news can't help but running this and I don't understand why. First, everyone's favorite tranny, Ann Coulter said John was a "fag". Well, I guess a mistress shoots holes in that theory. But since Ann's "fiancee" left her at the alter, there is still plenty of "speculation" about the true nature of Ann's "naughty bits", whether they are kibbles or milk bone.

Second, this opens John McCain's rather "sordid" past to close inspection. Cheating on a wife who had been disfigured in a car accident (true, not a disease, there is much less "sympathy" in an accident). Also, the mistress was 24 and a multi millionaire, which sort of mitigates the circumstances. It's difficult to hold it against a man when the mistress is both "young" and "rich". It seems somehow less "dirty". The only minus is that they married only a month after the divorce from "Quasimodo" became final. I guess that makes everything OK and "moral" according to how Republicans see "morals".

Edwards is no more ruined than ...

1) Republican David Vitter, who had multiple visits to many different prostitutes in Washington DC and in New Orleans

2) Republican Larry Craig, who was caught soliciting gay sex with a man in the public bathroom of a Minneapolis airport by an airport security officer trained to look for such incidents

3) Republican Newt Gingrich, who divorced his wife while she was in the hospital with a terminal disease, deciding instead to marry the secretary he was fooling around with for months

4) Republican Rush Limbaugh, who was busted for attempting to purchase 1,000 plus illegal pills through his house maid, AND ALSO for having viagra with him when he went on a trip to Santo Domingo, a known haven for child prostitution

5) Nazi Republican Michael Savage, whose comments to multiple callers and the audience in general border on the psychopathic, and customarily solicitatious of violence against his perceived political opposition

6) Republican Richard Nixon, who was guilty of massive corruption and disregard for the constitution, but still managed to be seen as a venerable old statesmen when the corporate media resurrected his career in the 1980's

7) Republican George W. Bush, whose flagrant cocaine abuse and massive philandering over 20 years was forgiven just because he was planted as one of several Texas Ranger investors and pushed into the Texas Governorship. His father even invaded Panama and captured Manuel Noriega when Noriega threatened to release documentary evidence of his Dubya Bushes escapades.

~ ~ ~

John Edwards moment of infidelity is miniscule when compared with the short-list of above villains.